What happened. Copper scrap benchmarks moved lower in the latest North American index session. Clean copper grades — Bare Bright, #1 and #2 wire and tubing, #3 light copper — all lost ground, insulated wire grades edged down a touch, and brass slipped too. Aluminum, steel, and stainless held flat.
Why it matters. It’s been a whiplash week for copper scrap: a sharp drop one day, a small bounce the next, then lower again. That kind of chop is exactly when guessing wrong costs sellers money — the number on Monday isn’t the number on Thursday.
The honest footnote. Index direction is not a quote. Scrap benchmarks move daily on COMEX and LME swings, and what a buyer pays for your specific pile depends on the grade, the gauge, and how clean it is. The index tells you which way the wind is blowing — that’s it.
What it means for sellers. When the market is bouncing around, the smart move is to lock in today’s number instead of hoping for a better one tomorrow. Sitting on copper wire? Call or text Sonny at 312-880-8174 — send a photo and get today’s price.
Market direction per the ScrapMonster North American scrap price index, September 14, 2026 session (published September 15).